Recently, small businesses have reported a significant increase in ADA lawsuits filed against them. These lawsuits, which have burdened many local entrepreneurs, allege violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Given these developments, we want to empower you with the knowledge and tools to comply with the ADA and safeguard your business against these lawsuits.

⦁ Consult a Certified Access Specialist (CASp): One proactive step you can take is to have your business or property reviewed by a Certified Access Specialist (CASp) through the California Division of the State Architect (DSA). CASps inspect buildings and sites to ensure compliance with state and federal construction-related accessibility standards. By identifying and addressing accessibility issues early, you can significantly reduce your risk of legal liabilities. To learn more about CASp and their services, please visit www.dgs.ca.gov/casp. 

⦁ Website Accessibility: In our digital age, it’s essential to remember that accessibility extends beyond physical premises. Your website must also be inclusive and ADA-compliant. Recent data has shown a rising number of ADA website-compliant cases. To ensure your website meets the relevant standards and is accessible to people with hearing or vision impairments, seek guidance and information on web accessibility and compliance at www.ada.gov/resources/web-guidance.

⦁ Stay Informed: Knowledge is your most potent tool in protecting your business from potential lawsuits. Stay informed about ADA requirements, and watch for updates or changes to the law. Education is the key to understanding best practices for accessibility and compliance.

In addition to these steps, we are proud to announce that the City of Monterey Park Economic Development Division is actively developing educational programs and workshops on ADA compliance and how to avoid potential ADA lawsuits. We believe that knowledge is the key to preventing ADA violations, and we are committed to providing resources to help our local businesses thrive while ensuring inclusivity and accessibility for all.

We understand that small businesses are the backbone of our community, and we want to support your success. By being proactive and informed, we can work together to ensure a more accessible and equitable environment.

We will keep you updated on the progress of our educational programs, and we encourage you to reach out if you have any questions or concerns by contacting us at (626) 307-1385 or by emailing EconDev@montereypark.ca.gov.

Together, we can protect your business and ensure our community remains inclusive and welcoming.

最近，我們觀察到針對小企業的 ADA 訴訟令人擔憂且顯着增加。這些律師信函指控商家違反了《美國殘疾人法》（Americans with Disabilities Act, 簡稱ADA），給許多本地商戶帶來了負擔。鑒於這些發展，我們希望為您提供知識和指南，以保護您的企業免受 ADA 訴訟的影響。

⦁ 諮詢持證無障礙通行鑑定專員（Certified Access Specialist, 簡稱CASp)：您可以採取的一個步驟是讓持證無障礙通行鑑定專員通過加州州建築師部門(California Division of the State Architect, 簡稱DSA） 審查您的商鋪和物業。CASps 檢查建築物和場地，以確保符合州和聯邦與建築相關的無障礙標準。通過及早識別和解決障礙問題，您可以顯著降低承擔法律責任的風險。要了解有關 CASp 及其服務的更多信息，請瀏覽 www.dgs.ca.gov/casp。

⦁ 網站無障礙性：在我們的數碼時代，必須記住，無障礙性超出了實體場所。您的網站還必須具有包容性並符合 ADA 標準。最近的數據顯示，網站不符合 ADA標準的案例數量不斷增加。為確保您的網站符合相關標準，並可供有聽力或視力障礙的人瀏覽，請在 www.ada.gov/resources/web-guidance 尋求有關網站無障礙和合規要求的指導和信息。

⦁ 保持消息靈通：知識是保護您的企業免受潛在訴訟的最有力工具。隨時了解 ADA 規例要求，並關注法律的更新或變化。教育是了解無障礙和合規性最佳做法的關鍵。

除了這些步驟之外，我們很自豪地宣布，蒙特利公園市經濟發展部門正在積極建立有關 ADA 規例要求及如何避免潛在 ADA 訴訟的教育計劃和研討會。我們相信，知識是防止違反 ADA 的關鍵，我們致力於提供資源來幫助我們的本地商業蓬勃發展，同時確保所有人的包容性和通行性。

我們明白，小型企業是我們社區的支柱，我們希望支持您的成功。通過積極主動和了解情況，我們可以共同努力，確保一個更加無障礙和公平的環境。

我們將隨時通知您我們教育計劃的最新進展，如果您有任何問題或疑慮，請致電 （626） 307-1385 或發送電子郵件至 EconDev@montereypark.ca.gov 與我們聯絡。

我們可以共同保護您的業務，並確保我們的社區保持包容性和熱情。